Some good info there Johnathon, especially about embouchure & 'feeling' the tune.

I play other instruments, (not very well), but a lot transfers over to flute & piccolo - I've just got to get a consistent embouchure, & then I'll be able to play flute just as poorly as my other instruments.

_________________Trying to do justice to my various musical instruments.

I'm relatively new to the flute. I bought a Copely keyless blackwood a few years ago, but have been practicing seriously for a few months now. Also picked up high and low D whistles.

I've tried lessons from OAIM, a couple private teachers, YouTube, etc., but by far, for me, the best resource I've found is Blayne Chastain's website. Very straightforward and easy to pick up new tunes with ornamentation. The next step is joining a local session.

I'm relatively new to the flute. I bought a Copely keyless blackwood a few years ago, but have been practicing seriously for a few months now. Also picked up high and low D whistles.

I've tried lessons from OAIM, a couple private teachers, YouTube, etc., but by far, for me, the best resource I've found is Blayne Chastain's website. Very straightforward and easy to pick up new tunes with ornamentation. The next step is joining a local session.

Joining a session is perfect to take the right way. You can use the Michael Clarkson´s blog, it´s fine to learn some tunes and flute technique. http://irishflute.podbean.com/

For about the last year, whenever I sit down to practice flute with a YouTube video, OAIM, or Conal O’Grada’s book, I end up sighing and thinking about the flute I have on order. This is usually because the players in the video/audio have a wooden flute with sweet tone. I end up not getting much done. (My current flute is a Delrin Tony Dixon 2 piece flute.)

However, the flute I ordered a year ago is making its way through the postal service right now. Once it is broken in, I’m hoping it will be the flute of my dreams. I hope I’ll be able to focus better. I should be able to get past the hang-ups of my current flute. And as others say, be inspired by my flute to become better and play more flute.

I play other instruments, (not very well), but a lot transfers over to flute & piccolo - I've just got to get a consistent embouchure, & then I'll be able to play flute just as poorly as my other instruments.

Hope to find my embouchure fairly quickly, so that I can get on & play.

Best advice I ever got for improving embouchure to upgrade tone is to practice playing long tones (holding a single note for an entire breath). Seems to have helped me.

I'm curious when I hear mention of embouchure taking years to develop. I'm an ex-sax and clarinet player and it makes sense where there is a lot of facial muscles involved. But flute embouchure seems to be the opposite - a conscious relaxation and direction of airflow with only the slightest tensing of muscles at the corners of the mouth. Once the basics are gained what exactly is the process of development and signs to look out or aim for?

One of the first 'real' instruments I made headway on was clarinet, & whilst I appreciate there is technique in getting the reed to vibrate, with a flute you have to hold the embouchure hole exactly right, & blow with the right amount of pressure, at the correct angle to get it to sound, it's not so easy - especially when you start moving your fingers around on the body, that's where I keep loosing it.

Edit: I'm hoping this situation will be a thing of the past when my new flute arrives, as it will have offset holes, which I think will make it easier to hold & manipulate.

_________________Trying to do justice to my various musical instruments.